Method and apparatus for continuously supplying fluid pressure to a plurality of fluid directing members

ABSTRACT

A fluid pressure supply system for continuously supplying fluid pressure to a plurality of independent, spaced apart, fluid directing members intermittently movable in unison between rest positions at various stations. A stationary valve connector located at a supply station is connectable to each of the fluid directing members in succession at the supply station for supplying fluid pressure to the members while at rest. Such pressure connection is broken to permit movement of the members in unison to succeeding rest positions. A movable valve connector located at a work station is connectable to a fluid directing member at rest at the work station for supplying fluid pressure to the members. The movable valve connector is movable along with the member to a succeeding rest position and work station to supply fluid pressure to the members while the stationary valve is disconnected and incapable of supplying fluid pressure to the members.

United States Patent 1 Feasey Feb. 26, 1974 [75] Inventor: Raymond D.Feasey, Pittsford, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Feb. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 329,933

[52] US. Cl. 198/19, 214/1 BS 51 lm; Cl. B65g [58] Field of Search...198/19; 214/1 BS; 271/74 R; 269/21; 5l/l10 57 v ABSTRACT A fluidpressure supply system for continuously supplying fluid pressure to aplurality of independent, spaced apart, fluid directing membersintermittently movable in unison between rest positions at variousstations. A stationary valve connector located at a supply station isconnectable to each of the fluid directing members in succession at thesupply station for supplying fluid pressure to the members while atrest.

Such pressure connection is broken to permit movement of the members inunison to succeeding rest positions. A movable valve connector locatedat a work station is connectable to a fluid directing member at rest atthe work station for supplying fluid pressure to the members. Themovable valve connector is movable along with the member to a succeedingrest position and work station to supply fluid pressure to the memberswhile the stationary valve is disconnected [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS and incapable of supplying fluid pressure to the mem- Y brs. 3,275,165 9/1966 Vedvik 214/1 BS 6 1,815,547 7/1931 Byrnes 51/110 18Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 2,967,568 l/l96l Friday 214/1 BS PrimaryExaminer-Even C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerDouglas D. Watts was/r WORKWORK WORK UNLOAD O STAT/0N smrm/v STAT/0N srgrlo/v STATION 6 R STAT/0NPAIENTED H3326 I974 SHEET 2 0F 3 POS. 4

PAIENTEDFEBZBIQH "3,794,151

"sum 3 UF 3 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING FLUIDPRESSURE TO A PLURALITY OF FLUID DIRECTING MEMBERS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally tofluid pressure supply systems, and more'specifically to an improvedfluid pressure supply system for supplying fluid pressure continuouslyto a plurality of spaced apart, fluid directing members.

Description of the Prior Art Pressure supply systems for supplying fluidpressure such as a negative fluid pressure or vacuum to one or morefluid directing members such as carrier suction members are generallywell known in the art, of which U. S. Pat. No. 1,815,547 is exemplary.In this patent, a plurality of carrier suction members in the form ofsuction boxes are mounted on an endless conveyor chain, and slidablytransported over a vacuum chamber connected to a source of negativepressure or vacuum.

'As the conveyor is intermittently moved between rest positions, aplurality of the suction boxes are continuously in register with thevacuum chamber, and ports in the bottom of the registering boxes arealigned with a slot in the vacuum chamber to subject the boxes to avacuum. Each of the suction boxes has a perforated top wall throughwhich air is sucked by the vacuum, when actuated, to releasably hold anarticle on the top wall. One of the disadvantages of such a system isthat a sliding connection is provided between the suction boxes and thevacuum chamber which provides a source of pressure leakage.

lt is also known to selectively control vacuum at a plurality ofstations in vacuum drum mechanisms by spring loading a plastic manifoldcontaining the required passages against a metal plate containing therequired porting for controlling the vacuum at a desired station. Such asystem is effective where the number of stations are limited and locatedalong a circular path of small length. However, such a system isimpractical where the path length is great and a large number ofstations are provided as in a conveyor system. One of the problems inconveyor systems having a large number of work stations is that themanifold and valve control system becomes excessively large with anexcessive number of hoses or pipes leading from the control system tothe fluid directing members. These and other problems of the prior artmechanisms are solved by applicants improved continuous fluid pressuresupply system of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a preferred method of thisinvention, fluid pressure such as a negative fluid pressure or vacuum iscontinuously supplied to a plurality of fluid directing members such ascarrier suction members which are movable in unison between restpositions at various stations. To accomplish the method, a source ofpressure such as a negative pressure or-vacuum is provided, andstationary valve means is located at a pressure supply station forsequentially connecting-and disconnecting the pressure source to each ofthe fluid directing or suction members in succession when at rest at thesupply station. Movable valve means located at a work station isprovided for connecting the pressure source to each of the members insuccession when at rest at the work station. The stationary and movablevalve means are initially connected to the suction members when at rest,then the stationary valve means disconnected from the member at thesupply station, and the pressure connection between the movable valvemeans and its-member retained during movement of the member from itsrest position at one work station to a succeeding rest position at asucceeding work station. Accordingly, while the stationary valve meansis disconnected, which occurs during movement of the members, pressureis supplied to the members through the movable valve means. When thestationary valve means is reconnected at the supply station to supplypressure to the members at rest, the movable valve means is disconnectedand returned to its initial work station.

In order to practice the inventive method, an improved fluid pressuresupply system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the inventionis disclosed for supplying a fluid pressure such as a negative fluidpressure or vacuum to one or more ofa plurality of carrier suctionmembers movable in unison by any suitable means past a plurality ofspaced work stations. Pressure is supplied to all of the members througha flexible manifold interconnecting them. A stationary valve connectoris located at a supply station, at which each of the members is broughtto rest in succession, for releasably connecting the source of pressureto the manifold. A movable valve connector is located at a first workstation, at which each of the members is brought to rest in succession,for releasably connecting the source of pressure to the member andmanifold at that station. The movable valve connector moves along withthe member as the conveyor and members are indexed one position to asucceeding second work station to continue supplying pressure to themanifold and members while the stationary valve connector isdisconnected from the manifold. After the stationary valve connector isreleasably secured to a succeeding member at the supply station, themovable valve connector is returned from the second station to itsnormal rest position at the first work station for securement to thesucceeding member.

In a more specific modification of the invention, the carrier suctionmembers are mounted on an endless conveyor chain which is indexed instep-by-step fashion through the stations by any suitable mechanism. Theflexible manifold comprises a plurality of flexible hose membersinterconnecting the members to form an endless manifold. Each of thestationary and movable valve connectors is provided with sealing meansfor sealingly engaging a suction member at the supply and first workstation respectively.

One of the primary advantages of the improved fluid pressure supplysystem is to continuously supply fluid pressure to a plurality ofindexable carrier suction members with a mechanism containing few partsand with a minimum of pressure leakage. The system has the furtheradvantage of being of simple design and construction, thoroughlyreliable and efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

It is, accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention toprovide an improved fluid pressure supply system in which the supply offluid pressure can be selectively connected to one or more carriersuction members on an indexing conveyor with a minimum of mechanicalparts and pressure leakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid pressuresupply system in which the pres sure may be selectively connected to oneor more intermittently transported fluid directing members withoutinterrupting the supply of fluid pressure, or using slip jointconnections.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparentfrom the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presentedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment presented below, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a pressure supply systemof this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating a valve mounted ona carrier suction member;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating four different positions of the valveof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 (Sheet 3) is a segmental view in section illustrating a valveconnector in sealing engagement with the valve on the suction member;

FIG. 5 (Sheet 3) is a segmental view in section showing anothermodification of a valve connector;

FIG. 6 (Sheet 2) is a segmental view illustrating still anothermodification of a valve connector; and

FIG. 7 (Sheet 2) is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the valveconnector of FIG. 6 in a retracted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Because fluid pressure supplysystems are well known, the present description will be directed inparticular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directlywith, apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Conveyor andvalve elements not specifically shown or described herein should beunderstood to be selectable from those known in the art.

With reference to FIG. 1 in the drawings, a conveyor of known type isillustrated comprising an endless chain 10 of a predetermined widthformed by a plurality of links 12, 14 pivotally secured together by stubshafts 16. The chain 10 is mounted for rotation on pairs of axiallyspaced sprockets 18, in which each pair of sprockets is secured to arotatably supported shaft 19. Each pair of sprockets 18 is provided withperipheral notches 20 for receiving shafts 16 of chain 10 fordriving thechain upon rotation of the shafts and sprockets. Any suitable drivemechanism, not shown, may be provided for intermittently driving one ormore of the shafts l9 and sprockets 18 for advancing chain 10 in astep-bystep fashion. A plurality of fluid pressure directing memberssuch as carrier suction platens 22 (FIG. 2) are mounted on links 14intermediate the ends thereof in spaced apart relation for receiving awork piece such as a cartridge or the like, not shown. A plurality ofstations are provided adjacent the periphery of the chain such as a loadstation at which the cartridge is placed on a platen, a plurality ofwork stations A, B, C, and D at which some operation is performed on thecartridge, a cartridge unload station and a fluid pressure supplystation at which a pressure source 24 can be connected to the platens22. The chain drive mechanism can be provided with any suitablecommercially available logic control means for intermittently moving thechain between rest positions at which the platens are in register withthe stations. In known work handling conveyor systems of this type, thepressure source 24 to which the fluid pressure directing member orplaten 22 responds is a negative pressure or vacuum, and the platen 22,as best illustrated in FIG. 2, is provided with a perforated worksurface 26 connected to a passageway 28 through whichair may be drawn byany suitable means such as a vacuum pump to provide a suction at worksurface 26 for releasably holding an article thereon.

In a conveyor system of the type described, it is desirable to have theplatens 22 at the load and work stations connected to pressure source 24to provide a negative pressure or vacuum to the platen. At the restpositions designated R it is desirable to have the platens connected toatmosphere and the fluid pressure supply blocked. It is also desirableto have the capability at any one of the work stations to manually turnoff the fluid pressure supply to release the work piece for inspection,discharge, or the like. To accomplish these and other objectives, avalve 30 is provided on each of the platens 22, as best illustrated inexploded form in FIG. 2, comprising a valve body 32 having a T-shapedmanifold port designated M with one horizontal leg extending completelythrough a valve body 32 and a vertical leg extending from the horizontalleg to the top surface of valve body 32. The valve body 32 further has avertical supply port designated S extending completely through valvebody 32 and platen 22, and a vertically extending platen port designatedP having one end connected to platen passageway 28 and the opposite endextending to the top surface of valve body 32. The horizontal legs ofthe manifold ports M of each pair of valve bodies are connected togetherby known means to a flexible hose 36 (FIG. I) of any suitablecommercially available type, such as a plastic bellows hose, to providea continuous hose manifold 36, M interconnecting all of the valvebodies. Each of the platen valves 30 is further provided with a valveactuator 34 rotatably mounted about a shoulder screw 38 secured to athreaded bore 39 on the top surface of valve body 32. Any suitable sealring, not shown, is preferably interposed between the contacting surfaceof valve actuator 34 and valve body 32, adjacent the outer periphery ofactuator 34. The valve actuator 34 has a crescent shaped slot 40 on thesurface thereof in engagement with the top surface of valve body 32, andmovable into register with one or more of the supply, manifold andplaten po'rts S, M and P respectively. The valve actuator 34 may berotated by any suitable drive means such as a belt 42 trained over agroove in the valve actuator 34, and a pulley 44 which is driven by anysuitable drive means under the control of any suitable logic system. Thevalve actuator 34 is movable between four positions as seen in FIG. 3,and retained in any selected position by any suitable detent means orthe like, not shown. In the first position, the supply and manifoldports S, M, respectively are connected together for connecting the fluidpressure source to the hose manifold 36, M. In the second position, thesupply, manifold and platen ports S, M, and P respectively are allconnected'together for connecting the source of pressure to the hosemanifold 36, M and to platen 22. In the third position of the actuator,the manifold and platen ports M, P respectively are connected togetherfor connecting hose manifold 36, M toplaten 22. In the fourth position,platen port P is connected to an exhaust port designated E extendingfrom passageway 28 to the upper surface of valve body 32 fordeactivating or removing any pressure from the platen by connecting theperforated platen surface 26 to atmosphere.

The fluid pressure supply system is further provided with any suitablesource of fluid pressure 24 as a vacuum pump for providing a negativepressure source. The pressure source 24 is connected to platen valvesthrough stationary and movable valve connector 46, 48 respectively.Since the stationary and movable valve connectors 46, 48 respectivelycan be and normally are substantially identical, only embodiments of oneof such connectors will be described in detail.

In the embodiment of the valve connector 46 illustrated in FIG. 4 (Sheet3), a valve body 50 is provided having an annular groove 52 on onesurface thereof over which a flexible member 54 such as an expandablemembrane of any suitable material such as rubber is secured by screws 56or the like. The groove 52 is connected through a port 58 to an airsupply line 60 for introducing air through any suitable valve to annulargroove 52 for inflating the flexible membrane 54 causing it to sealinglyengage a circular raised lower surface on platen 22 underlying valvebody 32 (FIG. 2). The valve body 50 has a central opening 62 registerwith supply port S in platen valve body 32, and central opening 62 ispreferably connected to any suitable vacuum supply valve 64 (FIG. 1) byany suitable tubing 66 or piping such as a flexible hose. The supplyvalve 64 is, in turn, connected to the source of pressure 24 by anysuitable tubing 68 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

. In another embodiment of a valve connector 46' illustrated in FIG. 5,an air cylinder 70 is provided mounted on a support 72 and having ahollow valve body 74 secured to the reciprocally movable cylinder rod76. The valve body 74 is connected by flexible hose 66 or the like tofluid pressure source 24 through any suitable fluid supply valve 64..Thevalve body 74 is provided with a hollow stem having ports 82 covered byan annular cover 84 slidably mounted on stem 80 and urged against a stopring 86 on the stem by a helical spring 88 interposed between a shoulderof valve body 74 and a rim 90 on cover 84. The platen valve body 92 isprovided with an annular recess 94 at one end of supply port S, and aplate 96 secured to valve body 92 covering recess 94 and having anopening 98 therein complementary to stem 80 for receiving the stem wheninserted therein. A disc 100 having a grooved or fluted periphery 102 ismounted in recess 94 and adjacent plate 96 and is urged thereagainst bya helical spring 104. When it is desired to releasably secure valveconnector 46' to platen valve 92, the air cylinder 70 is actuated by thelogic control system causing stem 80 to be moved axially outwardlycausing a seal 106 on rim 90 to engage plate 96 as seen dotted in FIG. 5for sealing valve bodies 74, 92 together. The stem 80 engages and urgesdisc 100 upwardly against the bias of spring 104 uncovering ports 82 forconnecting pressure source 24 through hoses 66, 68, valve 64, hollowvalve body 74 and hollow stem 80 to the supply port S.

In still another embodiment of valve connector 46" illustrated in FIGS.6 and 7 (Sheet 2), a valve body 108 is provided with a built-inreciprocally movable, air cylinder 110 which is movable from a normalretracted position (FIG. 7) to an engaged position (FIG. 6) in which aseal 112 secured to cylinder 110 engages a plate 114 on a platen valvebody 116, and tubular end 118 on cylinder 110 is inserted in supply portS to connect the supply source 24 to supply port S. Although there is aninstant when the main vacuum supply 24 is open to atmosphere duringshifting of air cylinder 110, it is felt that the pressure loss would beinconsequential. A commercial valve 64 could be used in the supply lineto effect closing of the fluid supply if this were found to benecessary.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, one of the aforementioned valveconnectors 46, 46 or 46" is mounted on any suitable frame or the like,not shown, in alignment or register with one of the platens at thesupply station to form a stationary valve connector. Another valveconnector 48 similar to one of the connectors 46, 46 or 46" is securedto a carriage 120 slidably mounted on rods 122 or the like supported bya platform 124 to form a movable or shuttle valve connector. The valveconnector 48 is slidably movable between a first position, in which thevalve connector is in register or alignment with one of the platens 22at work station C and a second position, in which the valve connector 48is in register and alignment with the next succeeding work station D.Any suitable means may be interposed between valve connector 48 andplatform 124, such as a resilient bellows type tubing or spring 125 forreturning valve connector 48 to its initial position. The valveconnectors 48 may be directly connected to the source of fluid pressure24 through any suitable hose tubing 66 or the like which is ofsufficient length to permit movement of valve connector 48 betweenstations C and D. Any suitable commercially available valve 64 may beinterposed between valve connector 48 and fluid pressure source 24.

In the operation of this invention, let us assume that the conveyor 10is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 with the stationary and shuttlevalve connectors 46, 48 respectively in sealing engagement with theplaten valves 32 at the fluid pressure supply station and work station Crespectively. The platen valve actuators 34 at the unload station andrest positions R are moved to their fourth position (FIG. 3) exhaustingthe platens 22 to atmosphere. Valve actuator 34 at the fluid pressuresupply station is moved from its previous fourth position to its firstposition connecting fluid pressure source 24 to hose manifold 36, M. Theplaten actuator 34 at the load station is moved from its previous forthposition to its third position connecting hose manifold M to platen portP causing a suction to be generated at the platen work surface 26 forholding an article placed thereon. The platen valve actuators 34 at workstations A and B are retained in their previous third positionsgenerating suction at the platen work surfaces 26 for holding articlesin various stages of operation. The platen valve actuator 34 at workstation C is moved from its previous third position to its secondposition for connecting pressure source 24 to hose manifold and platenport M, P respectively for holding a work article at station C. Platenvalve actuator 34 at work station D is moved from its previous secondposition to its third position generating suction at work surface 26 forholding an article. After the work has been performed at the variouswork stations, the sealing engagement between stationary valve connector46 and platen valve 32 is broken, and conveyor 10 is indexed one step toplace the work platens 22 at the next succeeding stations. As soon asstationary valve connector 46 is disconnected from platen 22, theconnection between pressure source 24 and hose manifold 36, M is broken.However, the pressure source connection to hose manifold M is maintainedthrough shuttle valve connector 48 and actuator 34 in its secondposition at work station C, and is retained as shuttle valve 48 movesalong with platen 22 during the indexing of conveyor 10. Accordingly,the pressure source 24 is connected to hose manifold 36, M during theoperation of conveyor to continue to supply pressure to platens 22. Whenthe conveyor has completed its indexing step and shuttle valve 48 is inthe dotted position at work station D as shown in FIG. 1, the stationaryvalve connector 46 and platen valve 32 are coupled together at the fluidpressure supply station, and valve actuator 34 at the supply stationmoved from its previous fourth position to its first position. Since thepressure source 24 is now connected to hose manifold 36, M throughsupply port S at the fluid pressure .supply station, shuttle valveconnector 48 may be disconnected from platen valve 32 at work station D,and returned to its normal position for coupling to a new platen 22 atwork station C. The platen valve actuator 34 at work station C is movedfrom its previous third position to its second position, and platenvalve actuator 34 at work station D is moved from its previous secondposition to its third position. The sequence of operation is repeatedfor each indexing of the conveyor.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinabove.

l claim:

him a fluid pressure supply system for continuously supplying a sourceof fluid pressure to a plurality of intermittently movable members, thecombination comprising:

a plurality of members intermittently movable in unison between restpositions;

a source of fluid pressure;

manifold means interconnecting said members and through which fluidpressure is supplied to all of said members;

stationary means for connecting said source of pressure to said manifoldmeans at one of said rest positions and disconnecting said source ofpressure during movement of said members between rest positions; and

movable means for connecting said source of pressure to said manifoldmeans at another of said rest positions and moving with said member tothe succeeding rest position to continue the pressure connection whilesaid stationary means is disconnected.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and further including an endlessconveyor along which said members are mounted in spaced apart relation.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said stationary connectingmeans comprises a valve connector adjacent one of said rest positions.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said valve connector isprovided with sealing means for sealing and unsealing said valveconnector to each of said members at said one rest position.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said sealing meanscomprises an inflatable flexible membrane.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said stationary connectingmeans comprises a stationary valve connector adjacent said one restposition, and said movable connecting means comprises a movable valveconnector. 1

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein each of said stationaryand movable valve connectors is provided with sealing means for sealingsaid valve connector to a member at said one and another rest positionsrespectively.

8. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said movable valveconnector is slidably mounted adjacent said another and succeeding restpositions for reciprocal movement therebetween.

9. In a fluid pressure supply system for continuously supplying a sourceof fluid pressure to a plurality of intermittently movable platens, thecombination comprising;

an endless conveyor;

a plurality of spaced apart platens mounted on said conveyor, and eachplaten having a passageway leading to a perforated surface;

means for intermittently driving said conveyor in unison between restpositions to successively position said platens at said rest positions;

a source of fluid pressure;

first valve means on each'of said platens connectable to said source offluid pressure and said passageway;

manifold means for connecting each of said first valve means to the nextadjacent first valve means to form an endless manifold, said first valvemeans being: movable to a first valve position for fluidly connectingsaid source of pressure to said manifold and a second valve position forfluidly connecting said source of pressure to said manifold and saidpassageway;

stationary valve means positioned adjacent one of said rest positionsfor connecting said source of fluid pressure to each of said first valvemeans in succession at said one rest position and disconnecting saidsource of pressure from said first valve means during movement of saidplaten between rest positions; and

movable valve means positioned adjacent another of said rest positionsfor connecting said source of fluid pressure to each of said first valvemeans in succession at said another rest position, and being movablewith each of said first valve means and platens to the next succeedingrest position to continue the fluid pressure connection while saidstationary valve means is disconnected.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein means are provided forreturning said movable valve means to said another rest position aftersaid stationary valve means is connected to said first valve means.

11. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said first valve means onsaid platen at said one rest position is moved to said first valveposition, and said first valve means on said platen at another restposition is moved to said second valve position.

12. The invention according to claim 9 wherein each of said stationaryand movable valve means is provided with sealing means for sealing andunsealing said stationary and movable valve meansto said first valvemeans at said one and another stations respectively.

13. The invention according to claim 9 wherein each of said first valvemeans is further movable to a third valve position connecting saidpassageway to said manifold means, and a fourth valve positionconnecting said passageway to atmosphere.

14. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said fluid pressure is anegative fluid pressure to generate suction on said perforated surface,said manifold means comprises a plurality of flexible hose membersinterconnecting said first valve means to form an endless manifold, saidstationary valve means is a stationary valve connector, and said movablevalve means is a movable valve connector.

15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein each of saidstationary'and movable valve connectors is provided with sealing meansfor sealing said valve connector to said first valve means at said oneand another stations respectively.

16. The invention according to claim 14 wherein said movable valveconnector is slidably mounted adjacent said another and succeeding restpositions for reciprocal movement therebetween.

17. A method for continuously supplying pressure to a plurality of fluidpressure directing members movable in unison between rest positions,comprising the steps of:

providing a source of fluid pressure;

providing stationary conduit and valve means for sequentially connectingand disconnecting said source of fluid pressure to each of said fluidpressure directing members in succession at a first rest positionthereof;

providing movable conduit and valve means for connecting said source offluid pressure to each of said fluid pressure directing members insuccession at a second rest position thereof; substantiallysimultaneously connecting said stationary and movable conduit and valvemeans to said fluid pressure directing members at said first and secondrest positions respectively; then disconnecting said stationary conduitand valve means from said fluid pressure directing member at said firstposition; and then moving said fluid pressure directing members tosucceeding rest positions, and

retaining said pressure connection between said fluid pressure directingmember and said movable conduit and valve means at said second restposition during movement of said fluid pressure directing members tosaid succeeding rest positions.

18. The method according to claim 17 comprising the additional steps ofreconnecting said stationary conduit and valve means to said fluidpressure directing member at said first rest position, and thenreturning said movable conduit and valve means from said succeeding restposition to said second rest position.

1. In a fluid pressure supply system For continuously supplying a sourceof fluid pressure to a plurality of intermittently movable members, thecombination comprising: a plurality of members intermittently movable inunison between rest positions; a source of fluid pressure; manifoldmeans interconnecting said members and through which fluid pressure issupplied to all of said members; stationary means for connecting saidsource of pressure to said manifold means at one of said rest positionsand disconnecting said source of pressure during movement of saidmembers between rest positions; and movable means for connecting saidsource of pressure to said manifold means at another of said restpositions and moving with said member to the succeeding rest position tocontinue the pressure connection while said stationary means isdisconnected.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 and furtherincluding an endless conveyor along which said members are mounted inspaced apart relation.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 whereinsaid stationary connecting means comprises a valve connector adjacentone of said rest positions.
 4. The invention according to claim 3wherein said valve connector is provided with sealing means for sealingand unsealing said valve connector to each of said members at said onerest position.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein saidsealing means comprises an inflatable flexible membrane.
 6. Theinvention according to claim 1 wherein said stationary connecting meanscomprises a stationary valve connector adjacent said one rest position,and said movable connecting means comprises a movable valve connector.7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein each of said stationaryand movable valve connectors is provided with sealing means for sealingsaid valve connector to a member at said one and another rest positionsrespectively.
 8. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said movablevalve connector is slidably mounted adjacent said another and succeedingrest positions for reciprocal movement therebetween.
 9. In a fluidpressure supply system for continuously supplying a source of fluidpressure to a plurality of intermittently movable platens, thecombination comprising; an endless conveyor; a plurality of spaced apartplatens mounted on said conveyor, and each platen having a passagewayleading to a perforated surface; means for intermittently driving saidconveyor in unison between rest positions to successively position saidplatens at said rest positions; a source of fluid pressure; first valvemeans on each of said platens connectable to said source of fluidpressure and said passageway; manifold means for connecting each of saidfirst valve means to the next adjacent first valve means to form anendless manifold, said first valve means being movable to a first valveposition for fluidly connecting said source of pressure to said manifoldand a second valve position for fluidly connecting said source ofpressure to said manifold and said passageway; stationary valve meanspositioned adjacent one of said rest positions for connecting saidsource of fluid pressure to each of said first valve means in successionat said one rest position and disconnecting said source of pressure fromsaid first valve means during movement of said platen between restpositions; and movable valve means positioned adjacent another of saidrest positions for connecting said source of fluid pressure to each ofsaid first valve means in succession at said another rest position, andbeing movable with each of said first valve means and platens to thenext succeeding rest position to continue the fluid pressure connectionwhile said stationary valve means is disconnected.
 10. The inventionaccording to claim 9 wherein means are provided for returning saidmovable valve means to said another rest position after said stationaryvalve means is connected to said first valve means.
 11. The inventionaccording to claIm 9 wherein said first valve means on said platen atsaid one rest position is moved to said first valve position, and saidfirst valve means on said platen at another rest position is moved tosaid second valve position.
 12. The invention according to claim 9wherein each of said stationary and movable valve means is provided withsealing means for sealing and unsealing said stationary and movablevalve means to said first valve means at said one and another stationsrespectively.
 13. The invention according to claim 9 wherein each ofsaid first valve means is further movable to a third valve positionconnecting said passageway to said manifold means, and a fourth valveposition connecting said passageway to atmosphere.
 14. The inventionaccording to claim 9 wherein said fluid pressure is a negative fluidpressure to generate suction on said perforated surface, said manifoldmeans comprises a plurality of flexible hose members interconnectingsaid first valve means to form an endless manifold, said stationaryvalve means is a stationary valve connector, and said movable valvemeans is a movable valve connector.
 15. The invention according to claim14 wherein each of said stationary and movable valve connectors isprovided with sealing means for sealing said valve connector to saidfirst valve means at said one and another stations respectively.
 16. Theinvention according to claim 14 wherein said movable valve connector isslidably mounted adjacent said another and succeeding rest positions forreciprocal movement therebetween.
 17. A method for continuouslysupplying pressure to a plurality of fluid pressure directing membersmovable in unison between rest positions, comprising the steps of:providing a source of fluid pressure; providing stationary conduit andvalve means for sequentially connecting and disconnecting said source offluid pressure to each of said fluid pressure directing members insuccession at a first rest position thereof; providing movable conduitand valve means for connecting said source of fluid pressure to each ofsaid fluid pressure directing members in succession at a second restposition thereof; substantially simultaneously connecting saidstationary and movable conduit and valve means to said fluid pressuredirecting members at said first and second rest positions respectively;then disconnecting said stationary conduit and valve means from saidfluid pressure directing member at said first position; and then movingsaid fluid pressure directing members to succeeding rest positions, andretaining said pressure connection between said fluid pressure directingmember and said movable conduit and valve means at said second restposition during movement of said fluid pressure directing members tosaid succeeding rest positions.
 18. The method according to claim 17comprising the additional steps of reconnecting said stationary conduitand valve means to said fluid pressure directing member at said firstrest position, and then returning said movable conduit and valve meansfrom said succeeding rest position to said second rest position.